Halving the use of pesticides averted: European Parliament rejects proposal

2023-11-22 18:30:34

The committee wants to reduce the use of chemical crop protection products, because they may be harmful to health. Some pest and weed killers may be carcinogenic or cause Parkinson’s disease.

Moreover, they are bad for the species diversity in European nature, which is already in poor condition. For example, agriculture is also affected by the decline of bees and other pollinators.

But the plans became the start of a fierce battle between the left, which did not think the new rules were strict enough, and the right, which wanted to weaken them so as not to endanger farmers and the surrounding business community. The powerful Christian Democrats, who form the largest group in the European Parliament, eventually managed to dilute the proposals so much that the Greens, among others, no longer wanted to support them at all.

Foul play by the agricultural lobby

Austrian Sarah Wiener, who led the negotiations in parliament on behalf of the Greens, speaks of a bitter disappointment, first and foremost for the environment.

According to her, the ‘disastrous’ outcome is the result of foul play by the agricultural lobby. He is said to have bribed MEPs. Amendment proposals submitted by MPs would come directly from lobbyists.

Anja Hazekamp of the Party for the Animals also complains that right-wing parties have allowed themselves to be taken advantage of by manufacturers such as Bayer-Monsanto.

Completely outrageous proposal

The Christian Democratic EPP is happy that ‘the completely excessive proposal from former European Commissioner Frans Timmermans’ is off the table. SGP member Bert-Jan Ruissen also does not regret the rejection of the ‘rigid and unrealistic’ plan.

“This proposal was completely useless,” said German MEP Peter Liese, who negotiated on behalf of the EPP. He believes there should now be a new ‘sensible’ plan after the European elections.